Review: Sleigh Belles by Janice Hanna

From Savannah to Montana…In 1916, Southern belle Alanna Lessing travels to Montana on a mission—to rescue her older sister from the influence of suffragettes and bring her back home to Savannah where she belongs. Alanna fears that her sister, Margaret, has allowed herself to be swept away by these newfangled beliefs.

The Christmas season is drawing near, and sleigh bells are ringing among the snow-covered peaks. The charming town of Missoula begins to grow on Alanna, and so do a few of its inhabitants—particularly neighboring rancher Tanner Jacobs. Alanna takes it upon herself to turn Tanner into a true Southern gentleman. He plays along, in part because he likes being near her, and in part because he’s intrigued by her very different way of life. Will their differences bind their hearts, or forever keep them apart?

Another winner from Janice Hanna [also writes as Janice Thompson – see yesterday’s book review].

I loved both the hero and the heroine. A cowboy from Montana and a Southern Belle from Savannah, Georgia. What’s not to love?

Both are very set on their ideas about the role of men and women – and they’re not entirely at odds with each other as they are with other’s in their lives, particularly their sisters, who are active in the women’s suffrage movement.

Alanna does her level best to turn Tanner into a true Southern gentleman. Tanner, for his part, does his best to become one as well as to turn Alanna into a sturdy Montana woman. Their interactions are fabulous as they struggle to learn each other’s culture. Though both Americans, they may as well have been from different countries given the differences in their lives and lifestyles.

The Suffrage Movement is front and center in Sleigh Belles, offering insight into some of the women behind the movement and into their motivations.

As always, Janice left me wanting more. And as always, I’ll be impatiently waiting for her next book.